Material with weight for sportswear

ABSTRACT

The present invention refers to a process to manufacture a weighted material for sportswear and said obtained material, that includes metal spheres, one or more elastomers and a textile material.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Chilean Patent Application No. CL 1875-2017, which is hereby incorporated herein as though fully set forth.

INVENTION FIELD

The present invention in general terms, refers to a process to manufacture a weighted material, for sportswear, and said obtained material, that includes metal spheres, one or more elastomers and a textile material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently there are available a variety of devices that allows to increase the force, resistance, and muscle development of athletes and sportsmen and women during their training. We found in the state of the art a number of inventions that uses weight incorporated to clothes such as t-shirts, shorts, Leggings, ankle supports, ankle braces, wristbands, etc. All of these have as a main feature, the use of special pockets that can be filled with stuff from gel or metals.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,490,766 describes a training device that includes a flexible body with a pocket that has an opening in one of its lateral borders, that allows to introduce a unit that possesses a plurality of metal spherical small pieces, each of them surrounded and embedded in a plastic material. The metallic particles are from iron, or steel or metallic oxides or sulfates. The plastic material can be rubber or a flexible thermoplastic. Besides, it is mentioned that the plastic material is used in a fluid state to mold it through the metallic particles, generating a continuous phase.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,735 disclosures a procedure to recoat a surface, that includes: i) form a sprayable rubber material; ii) apply the rubber material on a surface to form a first layer that covers up completely said surface; iii) apply a layer of hollow microspheres filled with gas to the first layer while the first layer is still humid; and iv) repeat the phases of apply the mixture of sprayable rubber and microspheres filled with gas in alternate layers to the surface to form a coating of selected/desired thickness on the surface. In addition, a seamless clothing piece made from a single piece is described, that includes a layer of internal base made from textile material to recover part of the user's body, a continuous cladding that includes at least one layer of sprayable rubber material; and a layer of hollow microspheres filled with gas.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,659,898 describes a whole-body suit that includes two layers of elastic tissue that includes a first internal layer and a second external layer and extended flexible weights that includes a polyurethane alloy and a metallic agent, inserted between said layers of elastic tissue and a third fabric layer of decorative material selected from spandex, latex or another stretchable material.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,156,572 describes a clothing article with coupled weights that includes strategically localized weights in the fabric, made from a solidified gel that is in pockets of the clothing article. The clothing article can be made from natural or synthetic materials, such as cotton, nylon, polyester, lycra, spandex, or combinations of them.

The patent application US 2010/0319099 describes a training suit that includes a single piece or part of two members, build from a mixture of fabrics and a series of integral cells strategically located in the whole cloth, that receive a quantify of weight material.

The patent application US 2013/0281262 disclosures an exercise device to be used around a subject's wrist, that includes a belt, a fastener and a weight inserted in the belt that contains a plurality of metallic chips included in a mold of rubber gel.

The patent application US 2011/0274903 describes textile fibers that contain matrix materials that confer weight to a clothing piece, that can be selected from different materials, including different kinds of glass, polymers and metals.

However, the documents here mentioned use special pockets that in which interior fillings are putted, being those fillings from gel or metals. In the case of gel, the problem arises because of its low density, it uses too much volume to provide a minimum weight, making the final product uncomfortable to use and visually heavy. On the other hand, metallic articles includes non-flexible bars, that does not correctly adapt to the user's body shape, being uncomfortable and resting mobility to the user.

The present invention differs from the state of the start, because it provides a process to manufacture a weighted material for sportswear, and said weighted material for sportswear in which the weight is part of the sportswear, it adapts to the user's body shape, it can be washed after its use and does not require that the user insert or remove the weighted material from the sportswear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention refers to a process to manufacture a weighted material for sportswear that adapts the user's body shape, it can be washed after its use, and does not require to insert or remove the weights from the sportswear.

Additionally, the present invention describes a weighted material for sportswear that is composed by metallic spheres, one or more elastomers and one or more textile materials. Such weighted material can be used to manufacture different kinds of clothes, selected but not limited to leggings (pants, shorts, sweatshirts), t-shirts (sleeveless, short sleeve, long sleeve and ¾) and belts (wristbands, ankle supports, ankle braces).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a front view of the weighted material for sportswear;

-   -   (1) include metallic spheres from steel and tungsten that can         have a diameter between 1 and 3 mm.     -   (2) shows the elastomeric material layer in which the metallic         particles (1) are embedded.     -   (3) textile material.

FIG. 2 is a view of the sportswear, that includes two layers of textile material which in between them the weighted material is assembled by seams in said sportswear, which contains metallic spheres (1) embedded in elastomeric material (2) and textile material (3).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a process to manufacture a weighted material for sportswear that allows to increase the force, resistance and muscle development in sportsmen and athletes during their training. The material obtained by the process described here is useful to be incorporated de clothing pieces such as t-shirts, shorts, leggings, ankle supports, ankle braces, wristbands, etc. Said weighted material has various advantages to the user, because it is thin, flexible, it adapts to the user's body shape, it can be washed after its use, and is not necessary to insert or remove the weights from the sportswear.

The main steps of the process described in the present invention includes:

-   -   i) use a mold system at a temperature between 20 and 30° C.;     -   ii) add between 1-99% in weight of steel spheres to the mold         system;     -   iii) add between 1-99% in weight of tungsten spheres to the mold         system;     -   iv) add in cold between 0.5-1.0 g/cm³ of an elastomer material         to fix the steel and tungsten spheres;     -   v) remove from mold after 6 to 12 hours;     -   vi) add textile material for both sides to create a laminated         with the same elastomer; and     -   vi) add to the fabric of the sportswear through a seam, to         elaborate diverse kinds of sportswear.

In addition, a weighted material for sports clothes is described, which is manufactured by the method previously described, wherein such material is composed by:

meal spheres (1);

elastomers (2); and

textile material (3).

The heavy and flexible material described in the present invention, includes metallic spheres from 1 to 3 mm of diameter, that can be conformed mainly by microspheres of metals such steel and tungsten. These two metals are used in order to mix their characteristics: tungsten is one of the more dense existing materials (18 g/cm³) as compared to steel, that has a high density (approx. 8 g/cm³), but lower compared to tungsten. When these two materials are mixed in different proportions and added to an elastomer and a mold system, it results in a material for sportswear of different densities and weights, because at the moment that the sportswear is elaborated, is possible to obtain clothes with the same dimension and size, but with different weights between them. This is an advantage to the final user, because at the moment of physical activity, it allows to use a specific sportswear with higher of lower weight, depending on the final physical goal of the user. Besides, such sportswear that contains the weighted material described in the present invention has more advantages, because it adapts to the user's body shape, it can be washed after its use, and does not require to insert or remove the weights from the sportswear.

In order to obtain a thin, flexible and heavy product, the metal spheres are mixed with some kind of elastomer that helps to fix the spheres and allow them to stay as a thin and flexible layer that can adapt to any form of the human body.

The metallic spheres (1) may have a density between 8-18 g/cm³, and the material can be selected from steel, tungsten or mixtures of them. The weighted material can include between 1-99% in weight of spheres from 1 to 3 mm of diameter composed by steel, and between 1-99% in weight of spheres from 1 to 3 mm of diameter composed by tungsten.

The elastomers (2) of weighted material for sportswear, can be selected from latex, rubber, silicone, or mixtures of them.

The textile material (3) of the weighted material for sportswear, can be selected from elastane (Spandex or Lycra), neoprene, cotton, polyester, or mixtures of them.

The weighted material is useful to elaborate a flexible and thin sportswear, with a thickness between 1 to 3 mm, and with a weight between 0.5 to 3.0 kilograms, and can include different products:

-   -   Training leggings: when made with the weighted material         described in the present invention, it allows to reach a weight         between 0.5 and 3.0 kilograms and with this more calories in         less time are burned when used, besides to tone up legs and         gluteus. The kinds of sportswear includes Leggings, shorts and         sweatshirts.     -   Compression t-shirts: when made with the weighted material         described in the present invention, it allows to reach a weight         between 0.5 and 3.0 kilograms and with this more calories in         less time are burned when used, besides to tone up arms, trunk         and back. The kinds of sportswear includes sleeveless, short         sleeve, long sleeve and ¾ t-shirts.     -   Training belt: allows to replace wristbands and ankle braces         that are currently in the market that are made from sand or         metals, with the difference that the clothing pieces described         in the present invention are more comfortable, they adapt to the         user's body shape, they are flexible and thin, especially useful         for the practice of diverse sports. The kinds of sportswear         includes belts that can be used either as wristbands or ankle         braces.

EXAMPLES Example 1: Elaboration Process to Obtain a Weighted Material for Sportswear

With the aim to obtain a weighted material for sportswear, in tables No 1 and No 2 are resumed the assays performed, in which mold systems were used at a temperature between 20 and 30° C. After this, 1-99% in weight of steel spheres and 1-99% in weight of tungsten spheres were added to the mold system, and between 0.50-1.0 g/cm³ of the elastomeric component selected from elastane (Spandex or lycra), polyester or neoprene were added to the mold to fix de steel and tungsten spheres. This step was performed in cold. Table No 1 shows the assays realized using an amount of elastomer of 0.50 g/cm³ and table No 2 summarizes the assays realized an amount of elastomer of 1 g/cm³. After 6 to 12 hours, the mold was removed and the textile material was added for both sides to create a laminated with the same elastomer (FIG. 2). Finally, the elaborated material was added to the fabric of the sportswear, through a seam.

TABLE NO. 1 Assays to obtain the weighted material for sportswear using a elastomer material of 0.5 g/cm³ density. Steel Tungsten spheres spheres Elastomer Assay (% in (% in (0.50 No weight) weight) g/cm³) Textile 1 1 99 Latex Elastane (Spandex or lycra) 2 60 40 Latex Elastane (Spandex or lycra) 3 99 1 Latex Elastane (Spandex or lycra) 4 1 99 Latex Polyester 5 60 40 Latex Polyester 6 99 1 Latex Polyester 7 1 99 Latex Neoprene 8 60 40 Latex Neoprene 9 99 1 Latex Neoprene 10 1 99 Rubber Elastane (Spandex or lycra) 11 60 40 Rubber Elastane (Spandex or lycra) 12 99 1 Rubber Elastane (Spandex or lycra) 13 1 99 Rubber Polyester 14 60 40 Rubber Polyester 15 99 1 Rubber Polyester 16 1 99 Rubber Neoprene 17 60 40 Rubber Neoprene 18 99 1 Rubber Neoprene 19 1 99 Silicone Elastane (Spandex or lycra) 20 60 40 Silicone Elastane (Spandex or lycra) 21 99 1 Silicone Elastane (Spandex or lycra) 22 1 99 Silicone Polyester 23 60 40 Silicone Polyester 24 99 1 Silicone Polyester 25 1 99 Silicone Neoprene 26 60 40 Silicone Neoprene 27 99 1 Silicone Neoprene

TABLE NO. 2 Assays to obtain the weighted material for sportswear using a elastomer material of 1 g/cm³ density. Steel Tungsten spheres spheres Elastomer Assay (% in (% in (1.0 No weight) weight) g/cm³) Textile 1 1 99 Latex Elastane (Spandex or lycra) 2 60 40 Latex Elastane (Spandex or lycra) 3 99 1 Latex Elastane (Spandex or lycra) 4 1 99 Latex Polyester 5 60 40 Latex Polyester 6 99 1 Latex Polyester 7 1 99 Latex Neoprene 8 60 40 Latex Neoprene 9 99 1 Latex Neoprene 10 1 99 Rubber Elastane (Spandex or lycra) 11 60 40 Rubber Elastane (Spandex or lycra) 12 99 1 Rubber Elastane (Spandex or lycra) 13 1 99 Rubber Polyester 14 60 40 Rubber Polyester 15 99 1 Rubber Polyester 16 1 99 Rubber Neoprene 17 60 40 Rubber Neoprene 18 99 1 Rubber Neoprene 19 1 99 Silicone Elastane (Spandex or lycra) 20 60 40 Silicone Elastane (Spandex or lycra) 21 99 1 Silicone Elastane (Spandex or lycra) 22 1 99 Silicone Polyester 23 60 40 Silicone Polyester 24 99 1 Silicone Polyester 25 1 99 Silicone Neoprene 26 60 40 Silicone Neoprene 27 99 1 Silicone Neoprene

Example 2: Use of the Weighted Material for Sportswear to Manufacture Sports Clothing

Once obtained the weighted material for sportswear, this was used to manufacture different kinds of sportswear, obtaining flexible and thin pieces, with a thickness between 1 and 3 mm, and a weight between 500 and 3,000 grams, as shown in Table No 3. Different kinds of sportswear were manufactured, selected but not limited to Leggings (shorts, pants, sport pants), t-shirts (sleeveless, short, long and ¾ sleeve) and belts (ankle braces and wristbands).

TABLE NO. 3 Elaboration of sportswear with the application of weighted material. Product type Size Minimum weight (g) Maximum weight (g) Leggings L 500 3000 Leggings M 500 3000 Leggings S 500 3000 Leggings XS 500 3000 T-shirts L 500 3000 T-shirts M 500 3000 T-shirts S 500 3000 T-shirts XS 500 3000 Belts  5 cm 500 3000 Belts  8 cm 500 3000 Belts 10 cm 500 3000 Belts 15 cm 500 3000

Although that this invention has been described under the modalities exposed here, it is evident that other alternatives, modifications or variations will deliver similar results, however, we have established that the amounts in which the metallic spheres, the elastomers and the textile material are present are fundamental for the success of the invention here described. Consequently, the modalities of the invention pretend to be illustrative but not limited. Several changes can be made without move away from the spirit and scope of the invention as is defined in the following claims.

All the patents, patent applications, scientific articles and other public documents that in knowledge of the applicant constitute the state of the art, have been properly cited in the present application. 

1. A process to manufacture a weighted material for sportswear that adapts to the user's body shape, it can be washed after its use, and does not require to insert or remove the weights from the sportswear, WHEREIN includes the steps of: i) The use of a mold system at a temperature between 20 and 30° C. ii) addition between 1-99% in weight of steel spheres to the mold system; iii) addition between 1-99% in weight of tungsten spheres to the mold system; iv) addition in cold of 0.50-1 g/cm³ of an elastomer material to the mold to fix the steel and tungsten spheres; v) remove from mold after 6 to 12 hours; vi) add the textile material for both sides to create a laminated with the same elastomer; and vi) add to the sportswear fabric by a seam.
 2. A weighted material for sportswear, WHEREIN it includes metal spheres with a density between 8-18 g/cm³; one or more elastomers; and a textile material.
 3. The material according to claim 2, WHEREIN the metal spheres are embedded in the elastomeric material.
 4. The material according to claim 2, WHEREIN it includes between 1-99% in weight of spheres between 1 and 3 mm of diameter composed by steel, and between 1-99% in weight of spheres between 1 and 3 mm of diameter composed by tungsten.
 5. The material according to claim 2, WHEREIN the elastomers are selected from latex, rubber, silicone or mixtures of them.
 6. The material according to claim 2, WHEREIN the textile material is selected from elastane, neoprene, cotton, polyester or mixtures of them.
 7. The material according to claim 2, WHEREIN it has between 1 to 3 mm of thickness.
 8. Use of weighted material for sportswear that adapts to the user's body shape, it can be washed after its use, and is not necessary to insert or remove weights from the sportswear, WHEREIN is useful to manufacture a sportswear that is flexible, thin with a thickness between 1 and 3 mm, and with a weight between 500 to 3,000 grams. 